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I EXINGTON «OI2L> VISION Lexington 2020 Vision Report to the 2005 Town Meeting April 4, 2005 The Lexington 2020 Vision Committee has completed a process of addressing three topics that emerged from its prioritization of the goals of the 2020 visioning effort. In the fall of 2003, the Committee co-sponsored with the Town Meeting Members Association a series of community meetings, one in each precinct, to invite feedback on the goals. Information collected at these meetings helped the Committee augment and narrow the original set of 27 long-term goals to an updated and more manageable list of ten priority goals. The three elected boards met jointly in December of that year and identified five of the priority goals that seemed appropriate for follow-up through the 2020 Vision process. The Committee established Task Forces for three of these topics to do the creative work of analyzing these issues and recommending actions: Budget Process and Communication, Constructive Community Discourse, and Economic Development. The many volunteers who participated on these Task Forces did an extraordinary job in tackling complex and difficult topics. The Economic Development Task Force identified some key issues relating to lack of town policies for active recruitment of commercial businesses and corporate offices, but did not agree to propose any concrete actions at this time. The Budget Task Force and the Community Discourse Task Force suggested a number of specific actions that deserve thoughtful consideration on improving how our community works together. The full text of these reports can be found on the Town's website at http://ci.lexington.ma.us/ Principal Task Force Recommendations. Constructive Community Discourse • Create structural mechanisms to improve the quantity, quality and availability of information and interaction: priorities are to improve the Town's Website, and create a Gathering Place • Act to improve the quality of discourse: train Committee and Board chairs in how to maintain civil discourse during meetings Budget Process and Communication • Create a Financial Policy Review Committee • Revise budget development schedule to obtain earlier vote by Selectmen • Implement comprehensive communications plan to disseminate budget information within the community • Establish a Metrics Review Committee Economic Development • Clarify for community the long-term benefits of economic development • Engage key stakeholders in establishing goals for economic development • Identify a town staff person to work on economic development